New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means (ankle) and running back Kendre Miller (hamstring) have been placed on the injured reserve on Saturday. The Saints are going to be thin on depth as the injuries keep piling up on them. The absence of Means should give Marquez Valdes-Scantling more snaps, but fantasy managers shouldn't trust him as a reliable option. Miller has missed most of the season, but returned for each of the last two games. Now, Alvin Kamara should see a heavy workload with Miller out and Jamaal Williams (groin) doubtful to play. Kamara should be an elite fantasy option against the below average Carolina Panthers defense.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means (ankle) has reportedly picked up a high-ankle sprain and will "miss time," per Rod Walker of The New Orleans Advocate. Ouch. It's yet another ailment afflicting a Saints' offensive player as the injuries continue to pile up for them. The amount of time he'll miss is unclear, but one has to assume it will be at least a couple of weeks before he returns to action. With quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) projected to return to practice this week, New Orleans' offense is trending positively. Still, it appears they'll be without another one of their skill players for at least a short while. Wide receivers Mason Tipton and Equanimeous St. Brown figure to pick up more snaps, while newly acquired Marquez Valdes-Scantling could be pushed into action sooner than initially anticipated.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means had three catches for 37 yards on five targets in Week 7's loss to the Denver Broncos. The rookie has seen an uptick in work over the last two weeks in the wake of a rash of injuries that hit the Saints' skill players, namely Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee). Olave looks ready to return in Week 8 but with Shaheed out for the season, it is possible that Means maintains a regular presence on the offense. Since Spencer Rattler took over under center for Derek Carr (oblique), Means has drawn the second-most targets on the team and has eight receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown to show for it. Sunday's matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers does not invite hope for a big day but it is possible that Means and Rattler build on the chemistry they have shown over the last two weeks while LA's defense focuses on the larger threats of Olave, Alvin Kamara (hand, ribs), and Taysom Hill (ribs). Means is not worthy of starting in most leagues but in deeper PPR leagues he deserves consideration for Week 8.
It took injuries to the New Orleans Saints top two receivers, but rookie Bub Means will likely get his first NFL start on Thursday when Week 7 begins. With Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) declared out, Means has a chance to build off his impressive Week 6 performance. In that game, he tied running back Alvin Kamara for the team lead in both catches (five) and targets (eight), gaining 45 receiving yards and scoring a touchdown after taking over for Olave, who was forced out of the game on the Saints' third offensive play. Unfortunately, Means' opportunity comes against the Denver Broncos, who have held opposing wide receivers in check better than anyone else this season. Over their first six games, they have allowed the fewest fantasy points per game and just one touchdown to the position. The one glimmer of hope for Means is that Denver will be missing the elite play provided by cornerback Patrick Surtain II (concussion). Means projects as a WR5 and is a risky play in the first game of the week.
Wide receiver Bub Means scored his first touchdown as a pro in the Saints' 51-27 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The rookie out of Pitt snagged a ten-yard toss from fellow fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler as Means was heading out of the side of the end zone and got both feet down before his momentum carried him out of bounds. Means stepped into the game to replace Chris Olave (concussion) who left after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit on the Saints' third play of the game. Means ended up with 45 receiving yards and tied Alvin Kamara for the team lead in targets (eight) and receptions (five). With the Saints next playing on Thursday night, it is unlikely that Olave will be ready to go which would allow Means to continue where he left off. Before fantasy managers rush to the waiver wire, consider Rattler's inconsistent performance and that New Orleans will be facing the Denver Broncos who have allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers.
Kendre Miller
• RB
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Saints
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